Snipers from across the world traveled to North Carolina at the end of March, 2023. The sharpshooters took part in the United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition.

The competition brought 19 military and law enforcement sniper teams from all over the world to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for a series of events. Instructors from the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School designed the course.

Each two-person team completed a series of challenges which tested their ability to work together and hit their targets with speed and accuracy. Sniper teams typically consist of one shooter and one spotter.

In addition to snipers playing critical roles in every military around the globe, law enforcement agencies from dozens of countries are increasingly relying on snipers. Snipers can conduct on-the-ground reconnaissance in hard-to-reach places, and of course, have the skill to take out targets at great distances.

Sharpshooter competitions and other wargames between allies aren’t unusual. In a conflict, troops from allied nations would be expected to work together. These types of competitions help increase the sense of partnership and what militaries call “interoperability.”

In August of 2023, the United States joined 17 other NATO and partner nations for the European Best Sniper Team Competition.

That 11-day sniper event was held at the Hohenfels training area in Germany. Most of the challenges there were based on real-world inspired battles, like the conflict in Mogadishu that served as the basis for the movie “Black Hawk Down.”

36 teams competed in events ranging from aerial shooting to unknown-distance shooting, and even trench warfare. Small-arms marksmanship, stalking, nighttime operations, and other skills were also put to the test.

A U.S. sniper teamed up with a Lithuanian for the competition. A team from Greece, however, was named Europe’s top team.